It's taken me a minute to get in front of a computer, but here are some scattered thoughts I have. Look, I love Falsettos with all my heart. There was one summer that I played In Trousers, March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland on such an incessant loop that I could sing every word on each album in under a month. I even went to the library to make photocopies of the sheet music of Four Jews in a Room Bitching so I would be able to sing along to any voice part I desired- true story! So would my fondness for the material make me be hyper-critical or just embrace the gooey lovefest I have for this show? The answer is definitely the latter, although there were some issues that need addressing.
Personally I loved the set. As has been described, it is a giant cube that breaks into maybe 40 or 50 pieces that the cast move around to create dozens of scenic designs. My friend turned to me at intermission and said, that set is a like a puzzle on Survivor. You know someone is going to have to put that cube back together at the end of the night. Even though I changed lyric alerts so the fact that the play begins in 1979 and the costumes are period appropriate throughout, the building blocks of the set give it both a timeless quality and a sense that we're in a dreamlike state. It wouldn't have shocked me if the whole thing had been turned into a memory play of Jason's; Falsettos doesn't need a framing device, but it's a nice thought to have.
The first ten minutes or so were a little shaky. All that four and five part singing is very tricky and the vocal lines are intricately layered, one upon the other. It will take a few more rehearsals with the orchestra before they get there, but they will get there. The solos and duets were much more self-assured in general.
As for the cast:
I love Mendel. He's like my dream boyfriend. Up until last night Chip Zien was Mendel, period, end of discussion. Isn't it funny how when we declare the discussion is over it's a sure sign that it's about to continue? Well, I simply adored Brandon Uranowitz' take on Mendel. He was warming, caring, funny, awkward and just the right amount of neurotic. He built a wonderful relationship with Jason and delivered one of my favorite lines, "Everyone hates his parents- that's in the Torah!" with perfect timing. So now Chip and Brandon are both Mendel, period, end of story.
I thought Stephanie J Block started off a little unsure of herself, but when she got to "I'm Breaking Down" she actually did bring the house down and all of a sudden it seemed like she took a deep breath, relaxed and became Trina. It was like she just had to get her first big number behind her then things could click into place. "Holding to the Ground" was another highlight of the night for me.
I think Christian Borle is stilling working out what to do with Marvin. He's obviously a very talented actor, and he's very tapped in to Marvin's anger and frustrations, but not the neurotic humor. It's easy to see Marvin as the "straight man" of the group; the glue that is holding this teeny tiny band of people together. After all, it's Marvin who keeps singing about how much he wants a tight-knit family. But the thing about Marvin is he's also full of sh!t. Marvin does more to rip these people apart than to bring them together. It is actually Jason for is the emotional lynchpin of Falsettos. He is the one who brings the family together and worries about his parents' happiness.
- Jason has to ask what Mendel's intentions are
- Jason has to spur on the marriage proposal (and introduces the song)
- Jason will only take advice from Whizzer about seeing a psychiatrist
- Jason makes sure Whizzer is included at the baseball game
- Jason doesn't want to have his bar mitzvah without Whizzer
I think Borle will loosen up and realize he doesn't have to be the sane one. He can be just as zany and crazy as Trina, Mendel and Whizzer. Borle did do well with the emotional moments. I had tears pin-pricking my eyes during "What More Can I Say," and "What Would I Do?" is now and forever a weeper.
It's quite a burden that Jason has to carry in this show, but I was very won over by Anthony Rosenthal's performance. He was very funny and his second act work in particular was stellar. "Another Miracle of Judaism" is a killer. He never came off as annoyingly precocious- he was just a smart kid left to parent two new sets of parents.
Andrew Rannells is working hard as Whizzer. It's not the easiest role to pull off because you have to be shallow and superficial and snidely funny, but we still have to be rooting for Whizzer and Marvin and to make it as a couple. We get to see them fight a lot, but as they sing to us, the fighting and arguing are really their favorite form of foreplay, so that needs to shine through. Of course, the fighting needs to slowly evolve from some sexual to something actually hurtful. I think they'll get here.
Betsy Wolfe and Tracie Thoms nailed the lesbians from next door. "Something Bad is Happening" was great and all the stuff about the bar mitzvah cuisine was funny. Wolfe just lights up a stage. She has some serious star power.
The biggest gripe I have is the changes and cuts they made to some of the lyrics. My paraphrase earlier of Whizzer hanging from a chandelier doesn't even work anymore because they cut that portion of Trina's phone call! Ugh. There were lots of little random changes, none of them really for the better. For example, I love(d) when Whizzer remarked, "Isn't that a French lapel?" and Marvin sang, "Whizzer has unlimited knowledge of dreck." Now Whizzer sings, "Isn't that wash and wear?" isn't of "French lapel." The meaning is altered and the original version is funnier. You see, Whizzer remarking that Marvin's clothes are "wash and wear" doesn't give him "unlimited knowledge of dreck." There's no expertise in seeing that clothes aren't dry clean only- especially as he's inspecting Marvin's shirt's label. It just makes him sound like a bitch and a snob. Knowing that it's a French lapel doesn't sound bitchy or snobbish- he's just filled his head with idiotic nonsense that Marvin considers dreck, but even that seems to turn his lover on. I hope Lapine and Finn revisit each of their changes and reassess, even if they ultimately let them all stand.
Ok, this is already far too long, but I was still ultimately moved; I laughed and cried and can't wait to see it again later in previews.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
